i know TWSS is mostly deserted these days, but i wanted create a special post to inform the community of Rachel Krantz's passing this week. (she was known as @AdventuresPoker here on 2+2 and twitter.) Rachel was a beloved figure to so many of us in the poker community and she is going to be missed terribly.

here is a little something that i wrote about her on Facebook:

wow. i just learned that one of the kindest people i ever met at a poker table has passed away.

Rachel was, without question, one of the most loving, supportive, and fiercely independent ladies i've ever known. every single time i'd see her she'd rush over with hugs, brunch invites, and advice/commiseration about navigating this über-competitive world of boys. she was a feminist and a fighter and whenever i ran into her i felt like i was among family.

in August of 2015 (probably right around this time, actually) i was driving back to Brooklyn from Atlantic City and bumped into Rachel on my way out of the Borgata. she told me she was about to head to the bus station to catch a ride back to NYC but i insisted she drive with me instead. we talked non-stop about so many things on that trip: her life, my life, politics, poker, sexism, her family's long history of socialist and anti-racist activism, her and my father's respective battles with cancer...

one of the major themes we discussed was living and coping in a world where strong women are constantly fighting to be taken seriously. Rachel came to poker later in life, and suffered her fair share of adolescent bullsh*t, but she never ONCE allowed the boys get the better of her. (or if she did, you'd never know it, because she never spoke ill of anyone in my presence in all the years i knew her.) she was a passionately devoted student of the game, always striving to be better, never really giving a sh*t what the boys thought about her. while my default method for dealing with conflict had always been to come out swinging, she taught me that a little bit of sweetness and empathy can go a long way.

before i dropped her off at her apartment, she insisted on taking me out for brunch as a thank-you for the ride back. when we sat down in the posh hotel restaurant she addressed all of the staff by name as if they were old friends. i'm sure anyone who was lucky enough to know Rachel has a story much like this one, because that's just the kind of lady she was.

i didn't even know her cancer had returned and i am sick to my stomach that i wasn't able to reach out and tell her how special she was to me before she died. i'll miss you so much, Rachel. i know we're both Jewish & don't really believe in the concept of heaven, but i hope you're somewhere up there winning coinflips & raking in massive pots off dudes for all eternity.

Played with Rachel, mostly in tournaments at Venetian, she was definitely one of the "good ones". Kind and fun to have at the table. She will be missed by many...wish I had known her better. Thank you for sharing your experiences with her Redhat_jane

Really just a beautiful memorial, Addy. Your stories brought up so many memories of conversations I had with Rachel on countless dinner break meals from coast to coast over the last 5 years. She was such a special person, and this was apparent from the moment you met her.
I remember her sitting in my living room gleefully telling my husband and I how much our son, Luca (18 months old at the time) reminded her of herself at that age!! And how good that was!! I am grateful she was able to meet Luca. And I miss my friend.

o wow..that is sad/i just had to look at her picture and oh wow.yes she was the nuts, a nice person,pleasant at the tables and could play..rapped with her many times and just at the last WSOP we had a few laffs about NYC..RIP Honey.World lost a good one.man.